A step towards integrated medicine?
October 3, 2003 – La Maison de la santé, a concept said to be unique in Canada, officially opened its doors this week in the Saint-Roch district of Quebec.
It brings together eight health professionals under one roof. In addition to a “classic” doctor, there is notably a massage therapist, an acupuncturist, an osteopath and a naturopath. She has been welcoming patients since April.
“It is a dream that I have cherished for a long time, to be able to work within a multidisciplinary team”, explains Doctor Paul Lépine, one of the main instigators of the project.
The Maison de la santé is not the first medical clinic to offer the services of an acupuncturist or a naturopath. However, it would be the first, according to Dr. Lépine (see photo), to offer such a close network between the various professionals. Thus, with the patient’s consent, the interveners will be able, among other things, to discuss their file among themselves.
“We will have active discussions which will give us a global vision of the patient’s state of health, and which will allow us to offer him a global solution”, specifies Dr. Lépine.
It will now be necessary to closely monitor the reaction of the College of Physicians, which formally prohibits its members from collaborating with practitioners not regulated by a professional order. Doctor Lépine openly contravenes this rule, but he told the daily Le Soleil that he believed that the College would not intervene.
Close collaboration with various community organizations should also enable the Maison de la santé to offer its services to people who cannot afford them. People who have been referred by these organizations, and who do not have insurance to reimburse the costs associated with alternative therapies, will be able to access them at a reduced cost.
The Maison de la santé will also offer popular training courses, such as Tai Ji Quan lessons, and will host the Quebec Higher School of Naturopathy. In each case, a place will be reserved for an individual experiencing economic difficulties.
The House of Health1 is a non-profit organization. Its activities are financed by rental fees paid by professionals, income from the School and income generated by popular training. Eight natural product companies have also given the House a free sponsorship.
Jean-Benoit Legault – PasseportSanté.net
1. The Maison de la santé is located at 622, rue Saint-Joseph Est, in Quebec City. Telephone: (418) 650-2666. www.lamaisondelasante.qc.ca